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October 2002

Lena’s Grocery on Holton is getting ready to open. Construction crews have been hard at work in recent weeks behind the painted windows. The new store represents a $3 million investment in the neighborhood.

There’s a new music studio in Riverwest, open Oct. 1, on Burleigh and Pierce. J.S. Cable Music Studio, owned by Jennette Cable, will offer piano, and other music lessons to adults and children. Interested in signing up? Call 374-0657 or email *protected email*.

On Tuesday, September 10, representatives of Closet Classics and neighborhood residents met at City Hall for a hearing before the Utilities and License Committee of the Common Council concerning an application for a Shows and Exhibition license. Before any of those attending could enter the hearing room, they were approached by committee chair Ald. Jeff Pawlinski and the manager of the License Division, and informed that the item had been placed on the committee agenda in error. According to the language of the ordinance, applications for Shows and Exhibition licenses are not subject to public hearings. However, this item had been placed on the agenda since it had met with concerns of absentee property owners and residents in the area. The item was removed from the agenda, and the committee asked that an opinion be sought from the city attorney concerning the situation. After the hearing, residents in attendance stated that there had been problems with the building previously, when it had been a tavern. They were concerned that the coffee shop and clothing store now run by the new owner of the building might at some time in the future “not be able to make it.” They were afraid that the owner might then apply for a liquor license, and that past problems might possibly resurface. It should be noted that the new owner of the building has been “making it” in the classic clothing business since 1984, has two locations, and has no intentions of turning Closet Classics into a tavern.

The Riverwest Co-op is moving ahead with plans to rehab the attached garage on the building. A new roof and deck are going up on the garage, and next spring the co-op plans to finish and add a door to the garage space, which will be used as a cafe/juice bar and will house the sinks required for offering bulk foods. Riverwest Currents – Volume 1 – Issue 9 – October 2002